Clemency denied for Troy Davis

Meghan Murphy-Gill |Print |Share

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A sad day, indeed. Despite pleas from religious leaders, lawyers, and family members, despite seven of nine witnesses recanting their testimonies, lack of a murder weapon or any other physical evidence linking Troy Davis to the murder of a police officer, he was denied clemency by the Georgia Parole Board and scheduled to be executed by lethal injection tomorrow.

"Davis' lawyers would likely attempt a further legal remedy before Wednesday but their options are slim, according to two legal experts.

"It doesn't seem like there is a strong legal option at this point. This (the parole board hearing) is most likely it," said Anne Emanuel, a law professor at Georgia State University. Emanuel, who spoke at a vigil for Davis on Monday, advises Amnesty.

The case has been through a series of appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court took the rare step in August 2009 of ordering a new hearing for Davis to assess what his lawyers said was new evidence showing his innocence.

The justices transferred the case to a U.S. District Court in Georgia for a hearing and determination of his claims that new witnesses will clearly establish his innocence. A year later, the judge, William Moore, rejected Davis' claims of innocence."